As the West Australian Department of Local Government deliberates over an investigation into the City of Mandurah, its councillors are polishing up their in-house code of conduct policies.
At an official meeting on April 30, City of Mandurah councillors voted on several amendments to the regulations covering elected members, employees and committee members.
On top of the items that were pored over in detail was the procedure of dealing with complaints and the channels in which those grievances can be lodged.
According to a report presented to council, the City of Mandurah was required to make a submission to their corporate lawyer when a complaint was made.
However, the report stated that role did not exist within the local government and, as part of the executive officer's recommendations, councillors were asked to vote for an alternative avenue.
It was decided that once a completed complaint form received by the corporate services director, the standing mayor and chief executive officer would be notified.
This would mean that if a complaint did currently arise Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams and chief executive officer Mark Newman would be responsible for the investigation of allegations.
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The duo must either probe the alleged breach, try and resolve the issue through discussions with the parties or engage an independent person to investigate the allegation.
If the alleged breach involved either Mr Williams or Mr Newman, an independent investigator would be required to step in.
Council ruled that whoever investigates a complaint must inform the person or people the allegation is against and brief them on the substance of any adverse comment in respect of them.
That investigator must also provide the person or people accused with a reasonable opportunity to put their case, hear all parties to a matter and consider submissions and make reasonable enquiries before making a decision.
They also need to ensure that no person is involved in enquiries that have a direct interest.
Wherever reasonably, practical parties would also be required to meet with the intent of resolving the issue and practical investigations would be kept confidential.
Town Ward councillor Peter Rogers moved the executive staff's recommendation and additional information, which was seconded by Coastal Ward councillor Tahlia Jones. The matter then received a unanimous vote from the full council.
Less than a week after that ruling, the state's local government minister and Mandurah MP David Templeman revealed plans to host a "private briefing" with his shadow minister Tony Krsticevic over an investigation allegedly into Town Ward counillor Dave Schumacher.
After nearly months of waiting, Mr Templeman answered the Liberal MPs questions on the probe that has been kept behind closed doors.
On May 7, Mr Templeman told Mr Krsticevic that the investigation was "ongoing" and responses to his questions "could prejudice the integrity" of the probe.
He did, however, confirm that the investigation had included "liaison with other relevant government agencies" but did not provide which ones.
Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.
